Adam Parris-Long

A coroner has blasted a mother and her ex-partner after the pair blamed each other for the death of a toddler.

Samuel Harry was just 19 months old when he was rushed to Bedford Hospital on April 21 2013– and just three days later he died after suffering a bleed to the brain.

Samuel Harry

During a two day inquest, which concluded this afternoon, it was heard that it is ‘highly likely’ that the child’s injuries were inflicted upon him and that there is little or no possibility the death occurred through natural causes.

It was also heard that his injuries were consistent with a blow to a soft object, such as a carpeted floor.

At the time of being admitted to hospital Samuel was in the care of his mother Deanna Buffham and her former partner Ryan Bate, who both pointed the finger at each other during the hearing today.

When asked if she injured her son, Miss Buffham, who appeared via a video link from Falkirk, told the hearing “absolutely not”.

She added that she “can only assume” Samuel’s brain injuries were caused by Ryan Bate.

She said: “I would always protect Samuel, I would always tell the truth and do my utmost to find out what happened.

“I need answers as much as anyone else in that courtroom”.

However Ryan Bate later told the hearing: “It follows suit that it was Deanna, it was not me.

“If there were two people and it was not one of them then it must be the other.”

He later said he would have “done himself in” if he had caused Samuel’s death.